Hybrid power systems

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to hybrid power systems for vehicles. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to hybrid power systems for various types of transportation vehicles where the hybrid power systems is partially, or even totally, based on the use of at least one hydraulic system to provide supplemental, or even the primary, motion power for a hybrid vehicle. In another embodiment, the hybrid power systems of the present invention are capable of providing both motion power as well as cabin comfort heating and/or cooling. In still another embodiment, a hybrid vehicle according to the present invention comprises a power generating system and passenger cabin comfort system, wherein the power generating system comprises a thermodynamic working fluid (FA) in a first thermodynamic cycle (C 1 ), a pump (P 1 ), a motor (M 1 ), a high pressure accumulator, a low pressure reservoir, and at least one heat exchanger, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid (FA) is concurrently operable to create either vehicle motion through the motor (M 1 ) or electricity through a generator and is operable to create passenger cabin cooling or heating through the expansion or contraction of the thermodynamic working fluid (FA).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid power generation system, comprising:
 a thermodynamic working fluid in a first thermodynamic cycle; 
 a pump; 
 a motor; 
 a high pressure accumulator; 
 a low pressure reservoir; 
 a first thermodynamic cycle mass regulator operable to control the total mass of the thermodynamic working fluid within the first thermodynamic cycle; 
 a control system and at least one valve configured to control a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into and out of the high pressure accumulator; 
 at least one heat exchanger; 
 a heat pump system in a second thermodynamic cycle; and 
 at least one valve configured to regulate a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid in the second thermodynamic cycle,
 wherein the second thermodynamic cycle is configured to operate independent of the first thermodynamic cycle by drawing the thermodynamic working fluid from the high pressure accumulator; 
 wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has a high pressure stage at a first pressure, the second thermodynamic cycle has a high pressure stage at a second pressure, and the second pressure is less than the first pressure; and 
 wherein the thermodynamic working fluid comprises carbon dioxide and is in a supercritical state. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has a low pressure stage at a third pressure, and the third pressure is greater than the second pressure. 
     
     
       3. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermodynamic cycle or the second thermodynamic cycle further comprises:
 a waste heat recovery system from a combustion engine; 
 an expansion device; 
 a waste heat recovery system bypass valve; and 
 a condenser disposed upstream of the expansion device and downstream of the waste heat recovery system bypass valve. 
 
     
     
       4. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein at an ambient temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a condensing temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a peak high pressure temperature, and the total mass within the first thermodynamic cycle is a dynamic function of at least one temperature selected from the ambient temperature, the condensing temperature, or the peak high pressure temperature. 
     
     
       5. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein at an ambient temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a condensing temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a peak high pressure temperature, and the peak high pressure temperature is a dynamic function of at least one temperature selected from the ambient temperature or the condensing temperature. 
     
     
       6. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermodynamic working fluid within a hybrid vehicle is concurrently operable to provide vehicle motion through the motor and to provide passenger cabin cooling or heating through the expansion or contraction of the thermodynamic working fluid. 
     
     
       7. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a waste heat recovery external heating valve operable to heat a heat transfer fluid and disposed upstream of a waste heat recovery internal heating valve. 
 
     
     
       8. A hybrid power generation system, comprising:
 a thermodynamic working fluid in a first thermodynamic cycle; 
 a pump; 
 a motor; 
 a high pressure accumulator; 
 a low pressure reservoir; 
 a first thermodynamic cycle mass regulator operable to control the total mass of the thermodynamic working fluid within the first thermodynamic cycle; 
 a control system and at least one valve configured to control a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into and out of the high pressure accumulator; 
 at least one heat exchanger; 
 a heat pump system in a second thermodynamic cycle; 
 a pressure ratio between a low pressure stage and a high pressure stage of the first thermodynamic cycle, wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has a peak high pressure temperature and the peak high pressure temperature is a dynamic function of the pressure ratio, 
 wherein the thermodynamic working fluid comprises carbon dioxide and is in a supercritical state. 
 
     
     
       9. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one valve configured to regulate a mass flow of the thermodynamic working fluid in the second thermodynamic cycle, wherein the second thermodynamic cycle is configured to operate independent of the first thermodynamic cycle by drawing the thermodynamic working fluid from the high pressure accumulator. 
     
     
       10. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 8 , wherein the first thermodynamic cycle or the second thermodynamic cycle further comprises:
 a waste heat recovery system from a combustion engine; 
 an expansion device; 
 a waste heat recovery system bypass valve; and 
 a condenser disposed upstream of the expansion device and downstream of the waste heat recovery system bypass valve. 
 
     
     
       11. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 8 , wherein at an ambient temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a condensing temperature and the total mass within the first thermodynamic cycle is a dynamic function of at least one temperature selected from the ambient temperature, the condensing temperature, or the peak high pressure temperature. 
     
     
       12. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 8 , wherein at an ambient temperature, the first thermodynamic cycle has a condensing temperature and the peak high pressure temperature is a dynamic function of at least one temperature selected from the ambient temperature or the condensing temperature. 
     
     
       13. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 8 , wherein the thermodynamic working fluid within a hybrid vehicle is concurrently operable to provide vehicle motion through the motor and to provide passenger cabin cooling or heating through the expansion or contraction of the thermodynamic working fluid. 
     
     
       14. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 9 , wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has the high pressure stage at a first pressure, the second thermodynamic cycle has a high pressure stage at a second pressure, and the second pressure is less than the first pressure. 
     
     
       15. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 14 , wherein the first thermodynamic cycle has the low pressure stage at a third pressure, and the third pressure is greater than the second pressure. 
     
     
       16. The hybrid power generation system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a waste heat recovery external heating valve operable to heat a heat transfer fluid and disposed upstream of a waste heat recovery internal heating valve.